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Tea Blog

Official Blog of the English Tea Store


June 2010

  • The Story of Barry’s Tea

    One of the most civilized things to come out of Ireland is Barry’s Tea. Funny that Thomas Cahill didn’t mention this in his book How the Irish Saved Civilization. He talks about the monks laboriously copying old Greek and Latin writings, preserving the ideas of great minds like Aristotle for future generations. However, a good… Continue reading

  • Tea-for-Two Sets

    Just as tea-for-one sets provide a cozy tea moment, tea-for-two sets provide that coziness for you and a special someone. Thank goodness there are some really, really cute tea-for-two sets out there. Tea-for-two sets generally are a small teapot, two cups (or two mugs) and a matching tray to set them all on. They make… Continue reading

  • Traditional Yerba Mate Drinking: Curing the Gourd

    Once upon a time, Americans would not have had ready access to yerba mate, nor would they have known what to do with it if they had. That statement applies primarily to North America. In South America, this introduction to yerba mate and its cultural significance in South America explains how the beverage has long… Continue reading

  • The Advantages of Blended Teas

    A classic tea blend: Earl Grey Tea Blends: Why Mix When You Can Drink Them Straight? Tea blends are everywhere. From simple combinations like citrus green tea to imaginative creations with dessert-inspired flavors, the variety of blends available today is nearly endless. But with so many distinct, high-quality single-origin teas available, why blend at all?… Continue reading

  • Water vs. Tea

    By now most of you tea lovers must surely be aware of the fact that tea is the second most popular beverage in the world (or at least this is what we’ve been told). At the top of this particular heap, of course, is good old-fashioned water. Putting aside for now the fact that tea… Continue reading

  • Unsweetened Iced Tea — Bucking a Southern Tradition

    Drinking my chilled (iced) tea unsweetened is truly bucking a Southern tradition. In the Southeast U.S., “sweet tea” is not only a true tradition but almost a right of passage. First, what is this “sweet tea” everyone around here raves about? Pretty obvious, really. It’s chilled (iced) tea with lots of sugar, at least that’s… Continue reading

  • Gongfu Cha

    With the ever-increasing interest in premium tea, there has also been growing attention given to the traditional preparation style known as gongfu or gongfu cha. This method of tea preparation has been practiced in China for centuries and has recently seen renewed popularity among tea enthusiasts seeking to deepen their appreciation for tea traditions. Gongfu… Continue reading

  • Putting the Squeeze on Tea Bags

    Let’s have a quick show of hands from all of you who use teabags. Don’t be shy. There’s no cause for embarrassment here. The question being addressed is “to squeeze or not to squeeze” — and we’re not talking about oranges. Do you squeeze out every drop of liquid from your teabags? If you answered… Continue reading

  • Review — Harney & Sons Yellow & Blue

    Name: Yellow & Blue Brand: Harney & Sons Type: Herbal Tisane Form: Silken pyramid sachets/teabags Review: Yellow & Blue is, as its name suggests, is a tisane (aka “herbal tea”) composed of chamomile, cornflowers and lavender. The blend is a beautiful one, as the blue/violet hues of the lavender and cornflower provide a wonderful contrast… Continue reading

  • Is Tea Good For You?

    I’m sorry if I’m the one who had to break this to you, but tea is apparently not perfect. Amid the seemingly endless flurry of reports on the many positive health benefits that we can realize from drinking tea, you’ll occasionally run across one or two not so good reports. For instance, it’s said that… Continue reading